Work

Association of dietary patterns with anxiety and depression symptoms in people living with HIV: a population-based cross-sectional study from China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mental health issues are increasingly common among individuals living with HIV, and diet plays a crucial role in managing mental health. This study aims to explore the association of dietary patterns with anxiety and depression symptoms within this population. METHODS: The population-based cross-sectional study included 700 Chinese individuals living with HIV, who participated in a health survey during routine checkups at the local HIV specific hospitals. Food-related information was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for anxiety and depressive symptoms based on quartiles of each dietary pattern score. RESULTS: Factor analysis identified four primary dietary patterns within this population: the egg-dairy pattern, the livestock-meat pattern, the whole grain pattern and the vegetable-fruit pattern. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the highest quartile of the egg-dairy pattern score exhibited significantly lower odds of anxiety symptoms (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.99) compared to those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, individuals in the highest quartile of the vegetable-fruit pattern score displayed significantly lower odds of depression symptoms (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.61) relative to those in the lowest quartile. Nevertheless, no significant associations were found between the livestock-meat pattern and the whole grain pattern with the risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms, even after controlling for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that adherence to the egg-dairy pattern and the vegetable-fruit pattern is associated with a reduced risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms among individuals living with HIV. Diet is acknowledged as a modifiable risk factor for experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, providing valuable insights for potential precision health interventions for individuals living with HIV.

Source: BMC Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-25475-1